GWU cracks down on anti-Israel encampment, admits protests 'not peaceful'
Fox News' Mark Meredith reports the latest on the anti-Israel protests from George Washington University.
Anarchists at George Washington University (GWU) in Washington, D.C., have apparently called for the beheadings of school administrators amid their continued anti-Israel encampment.
Demonstrators on campus called for the "guillotine" to be used on GW President Ellen Granberg and other school administrators, a resurfaced video posted to social media showed.
"Guillotine, Guillotine, Guillotine, Guillotine," a person repeatedly chanted as others joined in, while some specifically targeted Christopher Alan Bracey, GW’s African American provost, The National Desk (TND) reported. "Bracey, Bracey we see you, you assault students too."
"To the guillotine," another can be heard shouting, per the report. "Off to the motherf------ gallows with you too."
At least 35 people were arrested at GWU as of Wednesday morning, DC police told Fox News.
DC MAYOR, POLICE CHIEF TO TESTIFY BEFORE HOUSE LAWMAKERS ON GEORGE WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY PROTESTS
The statue of George Washington at GWU that bears his name wears Palestinian flags, a keffiyeh and stickers in a Gaza solidarity encampment. (Allison Bailey/Middle East Images/AFP via Getty Images)
Several members at the encampment then held a mock court hearing to decide the fate of the administrators, TND reported. According to the report, the incident was recorded from an Instagram Live video on May 3 and has resurfaced on social media.
In the video, an encampment leader rendered the fake verdict as a Bracey proxy sat before them.
This mock court continued with verdicts for GWU’s board of trustees and for the school’s president, shouting for each of these individuals to be beheaded, per the publication.
The agitators caused chaos in GWU’s U-Yard throughout the night and then resisted police officers after they were called to restore order.
Police finally moved onto the campus around 3:30 a.m. and used pepper spray to clear the raucous crowd.
For days, the encampment erected tents, displayed Palestinian flags and defaced a statue of the campus' namesake, former President George Washington, with Palestinian iconography. This included adding "Free Palestine" stickers to the statue.
A statue of George Washington is draped in a Palestinian flag in University Yard in the heart of George Washington University on May 2, 2024, in Washington, D.C. (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)
Students and others set up an anti-Israel encampment at George Washington University's Yard as part of a protest movement that has spread across universities in the U.S. (Amid Farahi/Middle East Images/AFP via Getty Images)
The anti-Israel crowd also erected an American flag with the words "Genocide Joe," on it, showing a photo of President Biden.
An image of President Biden with the words "Genocide Joe" is projected on an American flag that hangs from George Washington University Law School's Lisner Hall on May 3, 2024, in Washington, D.C. (Kent Nishimura/Getty Images)
"Long Live The Student Intifada" projected on giant American flag at George Washington University on May 7, 2024. (Fox News)
On Wednesday, D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser and police chief Pamela Smith are expected to testify before the House Oversight Committee on Wednesday to discuss the anti-Israel demonstration and potential safety concerns on the GWU campus.
The mayor’s office confirmed to Fox News Digital Tuesday that the mayor and the police chief will testify at the hearing.
D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser is expected to testify before the House Committee on Oversight and Accountability on Wednesday, May 8. (Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images)
Rep. James Comer, R-Ky., chairman of the House Committee on Oversight and Accountability, initially criticized D.C. leadership for not responding to the university’s request to help respond to protests that have grown increasingly combative in recent days.
Wednesday would be the 14th day of the encampment.
A student waves a Palestinian flag among the crowd of anti-Israel protesters at George Washington University. (Ali Khaligh/Middle East Images/AFP via Getty Images)
Students march while holding a sign during an anti-Israel protest that turned into an encampment at George Washington University. (Amid Farahi/Middle East Images/AFP via Getty Images)
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Comer said the House Oversight Committee will hold a hearing to "seek answers from local leaders on steps being taken to ensure this unlawful activity ends."
The Hearing on "Oversight of D.C.’s Response to Unlawful Activity and Antisemitism" is set to begin at 1 p.m. EST in the 2154 Rayburn House Office Building.
